A bird was faint with thirst, 1145 The breath in his body was heaving like waves of smoke. He saw a diamond in the garden: Thirst created a vision of water. Deceived by the sunbright stone The foolish bird fancied that it was water. 1150 He got no moisture from the gem: He pecked it with his beak, but it did not wet his palate. “O thrall of vain desire,” said the diamond, “Thou hast sharpened thy greedy beak on me; But I am not a dewdrop, I give no drink, 1155 I do not live for the sake of others. Wouldst thou hurt me? Thou art mad! A life that reveals the Self is strange to thee. My water will shiver the beaks of birds And break the jewel of man’s life.”[87] 1160 The bird won not his heart’s wish from the diamond And turned away from the sparkling stone. Disappointment swelled in his breast, The song in his throat became a wail. Upon a rose-twig a drop of dew 1165 Gleamed like the tear in a nightingale’s eye: All its glitter was owing to the sun, It was trembling in fear of the sun-- A restless sky-born star That had stopped for a moment, from desire to be seen; 1170 Oft deceived by bud and flower, It had gained nothing from Life. There it hung, ready to drop, Like a tear on the eyelashes of a lover who hath lost his heart. The sorely distressed bird hopped under the rose-bush, 1175 The dewdrop trickled into his mouth. O thou that wouldst deliver thy soul from enemies, I ask thee--“Art thou a drop of water or a gem?” When the bird melted in the fire of thirst, It appropriated the life of another. 1180 The drop was not solid and gem-like; The diamond had a being, the drop had none. Never for an instant neglect Self-preservation: Be a diamond, not a dewdrop! Be massive in nature, like mountains, 1185 And bear on thy crest a hundred clouds laden with floods of rain! Save thyself by affirmation of Self, Compress thy quicksilver into silver ore! Produce a melody from the string of Self, Make manifest the secrets of Self! 1190 FOOTNOTES: [87] _I.e._ if he swallow a diamond, he will die. XIII _Story of the diamond and the coal._